Author John W. Mefford introduces Ivy Nash in the second sub-series of the Redemption Thriller Series.

A volatile hostage situation at a foster home reaches a bitter end: shots are fired, some die, some live to tell a sordid tale. In the midst of the anguish and confusion is one child who will bear the scars of this unbelievable turmoil.

As a special investigator for Child Protective Services, Ivy Nash lives by one rule: she’ll do anything to fight for the wellbeing of children. Anything. Something that was never done for her. As a “system” kid, she spent time in seventeen foster homes.

Very quickly, the facts of the case are blurred…accusations of sibling abuse, connections to drugs. Nothing lines up, and authorities want it all to go away. Their target? A ten-year-old boy. Unrelenting in her pursuit to find the truth, Ivy and her new friend Cristina uncover alarming new information to pinpoint who is at the root of the crime.

But evil knows no boundaries. Shockwaves of her most horrific childhood memories erupt into the present, and Ivy knows that she's in the fight for her life.

Part of the Redemption Thriller Collection which includes the Alex Troutt Thrillers and the upcoming Ivy Nash Thrillers. While all of the novels can be read as a stand-alone, there is a connecting thread in the Redemption Thriller books that will be unveiled over time. For a more fulfilling reading experience, books should be read in order: Alex Troutt, and then Ivy Nash. More series will be added into the collection within the next year.

“Rife with deceit and deception and characters that leap off the page, this story is told with confidence through a sure hand, engaging both the mind and the heart. A compelling treat.” — Steve Berry, New York Times Bestselling Author

Books in the Alex Troutt Thriller Series:

AT Bay
AT Large
AT Once
AT Dawn
AT Dusk
AT Last

Books in the Ivy Nash Thriller Series:

IN Defiance

Coming soon….
IN Pursuit
IN Doubt
Break IN
IN Control
IN The End

IN Defiance starts right away with (triggering) action and does not slow down. I was gripped from the beginning to see what would happen and I hated putting the book down. (I fell asleep more than once with the book in my hands!)

The book starts with a quick peek into Ivy’s childhood and goes into a situation with one of her foster kids.

I love a good ‘puzzle’ and that was definitely what this was. While no one wants to think a kid did something wrong – like murder – sometimes evidence says otherwise. But when a child has a messed up childhood; psychology takes over.

There are a lot of shady characters and a lot of psychology. Plus there is Ivy’s background and a couple other seedy situations that left me turning pages.

I loved this book and cannot wait to read more in the Ivy Nash series. I have always been a fan of John Mefford’s writing and I think he’s getting better!

About the AuthorA veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.